Supreme Court seeks details of immovable properties owned by Jagannath Puri Temple

The Supreme Court has issued a slew of directions for better management and administration of the Jagannath Puri Temple. In particular, it has sought details of the immovable properties owned by the temple and the income generated from it..The judgment was passed by a Bench of Justices Arun Mishra, MR Shah and Ravindra Bhat..The judgment reads:.“There are vast immovable properties within and outside the State belonging to the Shri Jagannath Temple. It is stated by learned Amicus Curiae in his report that 60,418 acres of land belong to the Temple and Record of Rights have been prepared for 34200.976 acres so far. Let the remaining Record of Rights be prepared, as far as possible, within 6 months and the same be placed before this Court. With respect to other immovable properties within and outside the State, let inventory be prepared and details be submitted and how they are being utilized also how much income is generated from them.”.The Court also sought details of the mines and quarries owned by the Jagannath Puri Temple and the income generated from the same..“It is stated by learned Amicus Curiae in the report that there are several quarries and mines of the Temple, which are in operation without payment. A list of quarries and mines be prepared as to how they are being managed, who is operating them, on what basis and what is the income of the Temple from them and the outstanding dues. Let the list of quarries and mines be produced and the income generated/outstanding dues with names with other details.”.Further, the Court has also sought an inventory of the valuables of the temple and ornaments offered by devotees and how the Temple management proposes to secure the same..“With respect to valuables of the Temple, let the Temple Management place before this Court, what kind of inventory it has prepared? How it proposes to secure the valuables of the Temple and ornaments offered by the devotees?”.The judgment was passed in a petition seeking an investigation into the disappearance of the keys to the Ratna Bhandar of the Jagannath Puri Temple. The petitioner had also sought directions for the preservation and management of the properties and valuables of the temple..Besides the above, the Court has issued the following directions which are to be considered by the Temple Management Committee or the state government, as the case may be..Taking note of the incident that took place in December last year, wherein a servitor refused to open the temple doors at the scheduled time of 4.30 AM on account of a personal dispute with the police of Puri town, the Court said that the Chief Administrator of the Temple must take requisite action against the erring servitor. The Temple Management Committee was entrusted with the task of ensuring properly trained servitors perform the pujas, nitis, rituals etc..Further, the Court directed the Temple Management Committee to invite all the stakeholders to ensure that nitis, puja, and ritual are performed as prescribed. It was made clear that it is not for the Court to decide what rituals are to be performed..“What rituals are to be performed is not for the Court to decide, but when Temple exists due to the Deities, the Deities cannot be permitted to be disregarded by non performance of the nitis, puja and ritual in the traditional form.”.The Court has also felt the need for setting up schools for the children of the servitors and has directed the Temple Management Committee to allot a suitable place for a school. The school would cater to other children also, the Court clarified. The costs of Rs. 5 crore that was imposed on Kalinga Institute for Medical Sciences must be used for the purpose of building this school..The state government and the Temple management Committee have also been directed to work in tandem to prepare a plan to provide shelter and accommodation to the 60,000 pilgrims and devotees who visit the ancient temple..The Court has also stated that the devotees should not be harassed for securing donations and the same can only be ensured of the welfare of servitors is ensured..” It is for the Temple Administration and for the Government as it provides grants to temple to ensure that servitors are looked after properly.”.The Court has also expressed concern over the reported incidents of theft, chain snatching and the overall safety situation in the temple. It has directed that strict action be taken against unlawful elements indulging in such activities in the temple premises..“Those found involved in such acts cannot be said to be believer in the God also. When such an act is performed in the Temple, it is very disrespectful to Shri Jagannath and the Sanskruti. There is no place for such unlawful activities in Temples. The temple authorities and the police are directed to take strict action to avoid such incidents.”.Specific directions with respect to sub-letting of pujas, hygiene to be maintained at the Rishaghar where the bhog for the deity is prepared, construction of sheds for purpose of preparing food, quality of prasad items sold, identification cards for servitors, and the possibility of opening a dairy farm for the Temple, were also passed..The Temple Management Committee, the Chief Coordinator, as well as the state government have to coordinate with experts to devise a roadmap to ensure peaceful darshan for the devotees. The Court said,.“It appears from the Managing Committee response that lot needs to be done with respect to having proper darshan by people at large. As a matter of fact, there should not be any commotion and chaos as large number of pilgrims are visiting the Temple every day. It is a pious duty to provide proper darshan in systematic manner and to take care of the aged, the infirm and children.”.Noting the need for a waste management and effluent treatment plan to ensure hygiene, the Court has said that the state government may spend money in this regard “as it is a secular activity.” The Court also touched upon issues of cloakrooms at the temple, separate and clean toilets for men and women, and a parking spot for two-wheelers..[Read Judgment]